Doorlock



H. M. FOSTER Dec. 19, 1933.

DOORLOCK Filed May 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 1 v I r f I I 1 I I a Ii! .55 g

w 7 a 5 4 a 555 J J a J 2 a l 2 INVENTOR HMF'oster,

ATTORNEY- illmlnnn WITNESS Dec. 19, 1933. H, M. FOSTER 4 DOORLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24 INVENTOR EM I hasten ATTO R N EY Patented Dec. 19, 1933 DOORLOCK Howard M. Foster, St. Louis, Mo. Application May 24, 1932. Serial No. 613,307

6 Claims.

My invention relates to door latches, and more particularly to latches for automobile doors of that type which are provided with means for preventing the retraction of the latch bolt and opening of the door by operation of an exterior.-

handle, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is-a particular object of my invention to provide a retracting means for the latch bolt which includes a rotatably mounted exterior handle and key means manually operable to eifect an operative connection between the handle and the latch bolt to produce a retractive 5 movement of the bolt upon rotation of the handle.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide a means for establishing or rendering inoperative, the connection between the exterior handle and the latch bolt, yet permitting retraction of the bolt at all times by means of an operating member upon the inner side of the door.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an exterior rotatable operating handle embodying a key-operated means cooperable with the latch bolt in one position to eflect retraction of the bolt, while in another position of said means, the latch bolt will be disengaged,

0 permitting free rotation of the exterior operating handle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a latch. structure in which the exteriorly operable handle may be readily interchangeable, thus permitting the substitution of a handle embodying a diiferent key lock.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a latch structure wherein it is impossible to lock oneself out of the car upon failure to properly set the interior operating means.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a motor vehicle door having my latch installed;

Fig. 2- is a rear elevation of the latch showing the parts in'normal position;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the Fig. 2;

Fig, 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of 55 Fig. 2;

line 4-4 oi Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 8--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a grouped perspective view illustrating certain elements of the latch;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, illustrating the detent means for the interiorly operated handle member;

Fig. 9'is a perspective view of the latch bolt; and

Fig. 10 isa perspective view of the link for operating the latching means to render the exterior handle inoperative.

In the drawings, I have shown a portion 01! a motor vehicle door 10 which may be of the usual construction embodying a rabbet 10a within which there is secured a latch casing 11, as by screws 12. The casing is formed with a face extension 13 seated flush with the front edge 14 of the door, being secured to the door by screws 15.

The door 10 engages with the usual upright stile 9 of the vehicle body, equipped with a strike plate 8, (see Fig. 4). g

The latch structure will now be described, and attention is directed particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and'4 of the drawings wherein the face 13 is illustrated as having an aperture 16 through which a latch bolt 17 is projectable, the bolt being supported at its rear portion by a lug 18 soldered or welded to the casing 11. In order to maintain the bolt 17 in its projected position a spring 19 suitably supported by the casing is provided, one end of the spring engaging a kerf 20 formed in the bolt.

The bolt 17 is provided with an integrally formed upstanding, curved arm 21, which arm forms a connection for establishing retraction of the bolt 17, as will presently be described.

The casing 11 is apertured. as at 22 and is aligned with a similar aperture 23 provided in a cover plate 24. The apertures 22 and 23 are in axial alignment with a bore 25 formed through the door, and rotatably mounted within the apertures 22-23 and bore 25 there is a tubular shank 26 oi an exterior operating handle 27. A suitable bearing plate 28 is provided in the bore 25 to give a finished appearance at the point of entrance of the shank 26 within the door.

The casing 11 includes an inwardly projected lug 29 having an interiorly threaded aperture '30, and the 'face extension 13 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 31 (see Figs. 2 and 4). The cover plate 24 rests upon one edge of the flange 31 at one edge thereof, the longi- The side of the plate 24, the plate being apertured for reception of a screw 33 engageable in the aperture of the lug. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the casing 11 and plate 24 form a housing for a latch mechanism now to be described, it being understood, of course that the latch bolt 17, previously described, would also be enclosed within the boundaries of the casing and cover plate. The lower flange 32 is slotted as at 34 to accommodate the spring 19, the slot being of a length to permit reciprocation of the bolt 17.

Positioned between the casing 11 and cover plate 24 there is a roll back 35 having an axial bore 36 and oppositely extended trunnions 37 and 38 providing an oscillatable mounting for the roll back in respective apertures 22 and 23 of the casing and cover plate.

The roll back 35 is held in spaced relation with the casing by a shoulder 39 upon one side of its engagement with the cover 24, a trigger member 40 being oscillatably mounted upon the trunnion 37 and positioned between the latch and casing 11 to space the roll back 35 from the casing.

The roll back 35 has an extension 35a provided with a straight vertical edge 41 adapted normally to rest against the face plate 13 of the casing, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the opposite edge having an arcuate face 42 and shoulder 43, the shoulder 43 forming a seat for the bill member 44 of the arm 21. Attention is now particularly directed to Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, wherein the extension 3501, is disclosed as embodying a pin 45 reciprocably mounted within a bore 46, the bore being closed by a screw plug 47, and between the plug 47 and the pin 45 there is a helical spring 48 normally holding the pin in its projected position. A vertically positioned slot 49 is provided in the extension 350. within which a screw 50 carried by the pin is slidable. The screw 50 mounts a cam 51 operable in conjunction with the trigger 40 whereby upon oscillation of the trigger, the eccentric portion of the cam 51 will be engaged, thereby raising the pin 45, the function of which will be dealt with hereinafter.

A slot 52 is formed in the roll back 35 this slot extending a distance upwardly and lies in a plane at right angles to the bore 36. A keeper 53 pivotally mounted upon the casing 11, as at 54, is provided, and is disposed within the slot 52.

The keeper 53 has a semi-circular recess 55 upon its upper side, and the free end of the keeper 53 has a bill 56, adapted to project through a slot 57 formed in the face. plate 13. In order to maintain the keeper 53 in its normal raised position, one end of a spring 58 is anchored to a stud 59 of the casing 11, the opposite end being passed beneath the pivot 54, and retained finally in a kerf 60 of the keeper.

The trigger 40, as has been previously stated, is oscillatably mounted upon the trunnion 37, and to permit such action, the trigger is provided with an aperture 61 of a size to snugly receive the trunnion 37'. Adjacent the lower portion of the trigger, a heel 62 is integrally formed providing an abutting connection with a sliding link 63 of an interior operating latch handle, as will be readily understood as the description proceeds. A spring 64 anchored at one end upon the post 59 is provided, the opposite end being secured to a bill 65 of the trigger. The spring 64 exerts a pressure upon the bill 65 which tends to oscillate the trigger toward the face plate 13, thus forcing the heel 62 into contacting relation with a flange of the sliding link 63.

The sliding link 63 is mounted directly abov the bolt 17 and is supported by lugs 18 carried by the casing 11. The link 63 is of angular formation presenting flanges 63a and 63b, the flange 63a resting fiat against the casing 11 and the flange 63b contacting. the lugs 18. Alug carried by the casing 11 and overlying the flange 63a maintains the same in proper position. The flange 63a stops short of the flange 631) at one end defining a straight edge 66, this edge being adapted to engage heel 62 of the trigger, and the flange 63b is bent vertically as at 66b forming an abutment for the link.

A leaf spring detent 660 is rigidly secured at one end to the flange 63a, the free end thereof stopping short of the abutment 66b and is provided with an outwardly bulged portion 66d cooperable with a raised portion 66c formed upon the cover plate 24. It will be'apparent that as the link 63 is moved toward the plate 13, the bulged portion 6611 will be disposed to the other side of the raised portion 666 and will spring therebehind, holding the link 63 in this position and maintain the pin 45 raised. The link 63 will be released by the rearward movement of the bolt 17 when the bolt engages the strike plate 8, and this means prevents the accidental locking of the doors of a vehicle, such as would result if the interior operating handle was left in such position as to maintain the pin 45 out of engagement with the shank 26 of the exterior handle '27, as will be more fully described.

The link is cut away as at 67 to accommodate the arm 21 of the bolt. The cut away portion 67 defines a front shoulder 68 adapted to normally engage the arm 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and functions to retract the bolt 17 upon operation of the interior operating means, and a rear shoulder 67' which will be engaged by the arm 21 in the rearward movement of the bolt 17. The link 63 is apertured at its opposite end as at 71, to establish an operative connection with an interior operating handle 72, which will now be described.

The framework of the door ordinarily includes a slot 73 extending transversely of the door, and within this slot the link 63 is disposed, and pivotally connected to this link, by virtue of the aperture 71 and pintle 74, there is a second link 75. The link 75 is pivotally mounted to lever 76 fixed to a spindle 77 of the handle 72. The spindle 77 may be mounted within the slot '73 of the door in any desired manner, and as shown is supported by a plate 78 secured to the door by screws 79. It will be understood of course, that the lever 76 is oscillatable within the slot 73 and the slot is therefore shaped to permit such movements.

The exterior operating handle 27 as stated, is constructed for interchangeable engagement with the latching mechanism described, and in order to carry out this feature of my invention, the shank 26 is provided with circumscribing groove 80, so located upon the shank 26 that drawal of the handle 27. In order to release the shank 26, it is only necessary to exert a v downward pressure upon the bill 56, which will swing the keeper 53 upon the pivot 54 so as to clear the groove 80, the pin 45 having been first moved to its raised or inoperative position by exerting an upward movement to the interior handle 72, which will be described hereinafter.

The shank 26 is longitudinally slotted as at 88 to receive a lever 86. It should be noted that the lever 88 is pivoted adjacent one end so that the opposite end will be in its lowermost position normally, due to .the action of gravity.

In operative position of the handle 27, the shank 26 is positioned so that the slot 88 is in alignment with the spring-pressed pin 45, and the slot 88 is'of a width to accommodate the pin 45 therewithin, so that the pin 45 rests upon the free end 89 of the lever 86.

With the pin 45 projected through the slot 88 and resting upon the end 89 of the lever, a rotary movement of the handle 2'1 in one direction will cause oscillation of the roll back 35 with consequent retraction of the bolt 1'7 by virtue of engagement between the bill 44 of the arm 21 and the roll back 35. Upon release of the handle 27, the springl9 will return the parts to normal position as will be readily understood.

Should it be desired to lock the door against operation from the outside, a proper key is inserted in the cylinder lock 81 and rotated as usual. The rotation of the cylinder, it will be understood, also rotates the shaft 82, moving the cam 85 so as to raise the lever 86. It will be obvious that upon raising the cam 85, the

pin 45 will likewise be raised so that the pin will no longer remain in the slot, but will be disposed flush with the outer wall of the shank 28. Obviously the shank 26 will revolve freely without retracting the bolt 1'1.

It often becomes desirable to operate the latch from the interior of a car to render the operating handle 2'7 inoperative from the outside. This action is eflected through manipulation of the interior handle '72. Upon rotation of the handle 72 in the direction of the arrow B (see Fig. l) the links '75 and 63 will be given a longitudinal thrust in the direction of the face plate 13, and in such movement will cause the edge 68 to engage the heel.82 of the trigger 40 impart g an oscillatory movement to the trigger. Such movement of the trigger will cause the cam 51 to rise upwardly, due to the cam action therebetween and since the pin 45 is operatively connected to the cam by the screw 50, the pin 45 will be raised out of 'the slot 88. In this position of the pin the shank 26 will revolve freely. In order to maintain the handle 72 in its position to hold the pin 45 raised, the bulged portion 66d of the spring 660 will be moved over the raised portion 66c of the cover 24.

Should it be desired to retract the bolt 17 from the interior to permit opening of the door, movement is imparted to the handle '72 as indicated by the arrow A. Thus the links 83 and 75 are drawn backwardly. and since the shoulder 68 engages the arm 21 of the bolt, the bolt 17 will be retracted. Upon release of the handle '72, the spring 19 will return the bolt 1'1 to its projected position.

In the event that the occupant of a car should set the interior handle 72 to render the exterior handle 27 inoperative, he would, upon leaving the car, close the door 10. Upon closing the door, the latch bolt 17 will engage the of the bolt so that the arm 21 will engage the shoulder 67' of the link 63, causing a rearward strike plate 8, causing a rearward movement- 26 and the bolt 17 will have been effected per-.

mitting retraction of the bolt by the exterior handle 27. It will therefore be seen that liability of locking oneself out of a vehicle is not possible, since closing of the door renders the exterior handle 27 operative to retract the bolt In practice, each door of a vehicle of the sedan type would embody a latch structure as described, but only the right front door would include a latch embodying a key-operated bolt in the handle thereof. In effecting a locking of all doors of the vehicle, with the left front and two rear in closed position, the interior handles '72 are moved in' the direction of the arrow B which renders the exterior handles 27 freely revoluble and the right front. door is then closed and the key-operated bolt 82 rotated by use of a proper key to render the handle freely revoluble and inoperative to retract the bolt 17.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a lock of extreme simplicity, and one in which the exterior handle may be rendered inoperative for retraction of the latch bolt, as well as providing means whereby the exterior handles may be interchanged.

While I have shown and described a preferred construction, I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, and reserve as my own all such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l..In a latch, a casing having aligned apertures, a roll back journalled therein, a sliding bolt operatively associated with said roll back,

said roll back having a bore and slot, said slot back and disposed within said slot, a lever pivoted within said last named slot, and disposed beneath said pin, a shaft journalled within said shank, a cam thereon and disposed beneath said lever, and key operated means associated with said shaft. for rotating said cam.

2. In a latch, a casing having aligned apertures, a roll back having trunnions disposed therein, a spring-pressed sliding bolt associated with said roll back, said roll back having a bore and slot, a handle for said latch including a shank, said shank having a circumscribing groove, a detent mounted within said casing and positioned within said slot and groove for revoluble retention of said shank, interlocking means between said shank and roll back and said detent having means exteriorly of said casing for release of said shank.

3. In a latch, a casing having aligned apertures, a roll back oscillatably mounted therein,

a spring-pressed sliding bolt associated with said roll back, said roll back having a bore and slot, a handle for said latch including a shank disposed within the bore of said roll back, said shank having a circumscribing groove in alignment with said slot, a spring-pressed detent.

mounted within said casing and positioned within said slot and groove for retention of said shank,'interlocking means between said shank and roll back, means for releasing said interlocking means, and means exteriorly of said casingfor releasing said shank.

4. In a latch, a casing having aligned aperhires, a roll back having trunnions disposed therein, a spring-pressed sliding bolt associated with said roll back, an operating handle for said latch including a shank revolubly mounted within said roll back, a spring-pressed pin slidably mounted within said roll back and adapted for interlocking engagement with said shank, means carried by said shank for releasing said interlocking means, a trigger oscillatably mounted upon one of the trunnions of said roll back, spring means for holding said trigger in one position of its movement, a cam member fixed to said spring-pressed pin member and in contact with said trigger, said trigger having a heel member, a second operating handle, said handle including a link movable in the direction of said heel member, and said link having a projection in line with said heel member whereby upon rotation of said second handle member in one direction said trigger will be oscillated to raise said spring-pressed pin member.

5. In a latch, the combination with a door having exterior and interior operating handles, a sliding bolt having an arm, a rollback having trunnions for oscillatably mounting the same, said roll back contacting said arm, saidexterior handle having means for interlocking engagement with said roll back, a trigger oscillatably mounted upon one of the trunnions of said roll back and having a heel, a sliding link member, having a projection in contact with said heel member, means carried by said roll back for releasing operative connection between caid roll back and said exterior handle upon sliding movement of said link in one direction, a second link pivotally connected to said first named link and to said interior handle, means for holding said link member in position to maintain said trigger in its oscillated position, and said first named link having a shoulder in contact with the arm of said sliding bolt for retracting said bolt in the other direction of sliding movement of said link.

6. A latch mechanism mounted on the door of a vehicle and cooperating with a strike plate mounted on the jamb of the door, said latch mechanism having a roll back, a spring-pressed sliding bolt associated with said roll back, an exterior operating handle for said latch including a shank revolubly mounted within said roll,

back, a spring-pressed pin slidably mounted within said roll back and adapted for interlock-'- ing engagement with said shank, a trigger oscillatably mounted upon said roll back, spring means for holding said trigger in one position of its movement, a cam member fixed to said pin member and in contact with said trigger, said trigger having a heel member, an interior operating handle, said handle including a link movable in the direction of said heel member and having a shoulder engageable with said heel to oscillate said trigger and raise said spring pressed pin member upon movement of said link in one direction, detent means carried by said link for holding said pin member in it's raised position to render said exterior handle n HOWARD M. FOSTER. 

